Skoda Octavia vRS Bonneville with 600HP

Czech automaker Skoda announced its plans of competing in the famous Bonneville Speed Week in August (13-20), and they goal is to reach a speed of 200 mph.

The car features a 2.0-liter TSI petrol engine that has been equipped with a new Garret turbocharger. Thanks to high-octane race fuel and 26 to 28 PSI of boost, the engine will produce 550-600 PS (405-441 kW / 542-592 hp) and 450 Nm (332 lb-ft) of torque. Skoda estimates this will enable the car to hit a top speed in excess of 200 mph (322 km/h).

The car also features changes to improve aerodynamics and performance. That includes lowering it to run almost 80mm closer to the ground and a new sub-frame which houses a race prepared intercooler. The unique racer has been built to stringent Southern California Timing Association (SCTA) safety regulations, which means a reinforced roll cage, parachute, fire extinguishers and window cage.

Rear brakes have been removed to reduce aerodynamic drag – the Octavia will rely on a drag racing parachute to stop. Wheels are standard Skoda 15-inch steel rims wearing high-pressure Goodyear Eagle Land Speed tyres to give a total wheel diameter of 23-inches.





Press Release

ŠKODA TAKES ON BONNEVILLE SPEED WEEK......AT 200MPH

• Škoda to compete on legendary American salt flats to mark 10 years of vRS
• Specially built 600PS Octavia vRS aims to be the first 200mph Škoda

Simply Clever.....at more than 200mph! Škoda UK is to celebrate the 10th anniversary of its iconic vRS performance flagship badge by going landspeed record racing.

A one-off modified Octavia vRS saloon has been entered into the world famous Bonneville Speed Week in August (13-20). Its aim is to break the magic 200mph barrier and join the most exclusive club in motoring.

The brand's UK technical team at Milton Keynes has been working in secret on the vehicle for several months, with the assistance of performance software and tuning outfit REVO Technik.

The car is a factory-fresh production Octavia vRS, but some changes have been made to improve aerodynamics and performance. That includes lowering it to run almost 80mm closer to the ground and a new sub-frame which houses a race prepared intercooler.

It retains its production-standard 2.0-litre four-cylinder TSI petrol engine but the standard turbo has been replaced with a more advanced unit from respected component firm Garret. Generating up to 600PS, and producing 26-28 PSI of boost pressure, it drinks high-octane race fuel (with water methanol mix)rather than unleaded petrol.

The unique racer has been built to stringent Southern California Timing Association (SCTA) safety regulations, which means a reinforced roll cage, parachute, fire extinguishers and window cage.

Since its launch in 2001, vRS has captured the hearts of UK motorists who enjoy the thrill of sports car driving. Since then, the UK has become Škoda'slargest market for the Octavia and Fabia vRS with more than 12,000 cars sold since launch.

Robert Hazelwood, Director for Škoda UK, said: "The 10-year relationship between the UK and the vRS badge has been extremely successful. This is a landmark anniversary and going to Bonneville is a fitting tribute. It's also an ambitious project which might surprise a few people, but Škoda is all about engineering excellence and this car is pushing that to new limits."

The vRS is entered into the ‘2.0-litre production car' category and will race over a nine-mile straight, which includes a timed mile in the middle. Performance through that section determines the class winner.

The legendary Bonneville Salt Flats begin 90 miles west of Salt Lake City and cover around 50 square miles of north-western Utah. It has been the spiritual home to high-speed racing for almost a century and each August a variety of hot rods, roadsters, belly tankers, lakesters, motorcycles, streamliners and diesel trucks compete in Speed Week.

Škoda vRS models are designed to ignite the passion and thrill of sports car driving. They offer additional emotional involvement and an extra level of dynamic appeal, and stand out from the crowd thanks to their subtle but distinctive exterior features. These include aggressive bumpers, rear spoiler, bespoke alloy wheels and chromed exhaust tips. Inside, the attention to detail continues with fresh upholstery, unique badging and smart dashboard inserts.

Renault Megane RS Trophy

Renault has unveiled the Megane Renaultsport (RS) 265 Trophy - the company’s fastest ever road going model. Set to debut at the World Series by Renault race at the Nurburgring on 18-19 June 2011, the Megane 265 Trophy has been developed to take on hot-hatch rivals including VW Group's Scirocco R and Golf R.

The car is basically a tweaked version of the RS 250 Megane. It comes with the Cup chassis version and stiffer springs, dampers and anti-roll bar, mechanical limited slip differential, Brembo brakes and grooved brake discs, but unlike other fast Renault hatches like the R26, it’s not a stripped-out track car and comes with plenty of equipments like a proper hot hatch should.

Inside the Trophy are Recaro seats with yellow seatbelts, and at each corner you'll find 19in alloys in gloss black with a red stripe around the rim. But the best bit is a ‘Renaultsport Monitor' that shows live engine performance, acceleration, lap time and g-force stats.

Prices in France will start from €35500. With maximum power of 265hp (up 15hp), peak torque of 360Nm (+20Nm) available across a particularly broad rev-band (3000 to 5000rpm), a power-to-weight ratio of 5.09kg/hp and specific power of 132.5hp/litre, the car boasts an exceptional performance package.





Press Release

Mégane R.S. Trophy: benchmark performance and versatility

June 10, 2011

Renault unveils an even hotter version of Mégane R.S..

With a power output of 265hp and peak torque of 360Nm, Mégane R.S. Trophy delivers unrivalled efficiency for its class. A new tyre fitment and an increase in power make the very most of the Cup chassis' potential, without detracting from the car's acclaimed versatility and ride comfort.

A production run of 500 cars is planned, and Mégane R.S. Trophy's specific styling features put it at the very top of the Mégane R.S. range.

Order books open on June 20, 2011, and the newcomer will be marketed in France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Belgium, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia. Prices in France will start from €35,500.

Technical evolutions for the existing, exceptional performance package

With maximum power of 265hp (up 15hp), peak torque of 360Nm (+20Nm) available across a particularly broad rev-band (3,000 to 5,000rpm), a power-to-weight ratio of 5.09kg/hp and specific power of 132.5hp/litre, the car boasts an exceptional performance package. Even so, Renault Sport's engineers have worked hard on the specification of the Mégane R.S.'s 2.0-litre turbocharged engine to take driving enjoyment and response to even higher levels. Maximum turbo pressure has been uprated to 2.5 bar (up 0.2 bar), while the air intake design has been revised to take the higher pressure and higher running temperatures into account.

Performance has been enhanced in the process, and the result is a 0-to-100kph time of just 6.0s (down 0.1s), a top speed of 254kph (up 4kph) and the 1,000km standing start in 25.4s (down 0.3s). Beyond these statistics, however, the experience of driving Mégane R.S. Trophy is a constant source of enjoyment and satisfying sensations. In addition to the finely-tuned set-up of the Cup chassis and the standard limited slip differential, a new tyre fitment contributes to the car's exceptional road-holding on dry roads, especially through tighter turns, as well as in the wet. The design of the Formula 1-inspired Bridgestone Potenza RE050A's asymmetric, directional tread pattern and the form of its tread blocks provide outstanding grip, stability and acoustic comfort, whatever the conditions. Last but not least, Mégane R.S. Trophy's fuel-efficiency has been carefully optimised to return combined-cycle fuel consumption of just 8.2 litres/100km, equivalent to 190g of CO2/km, which represents a saving of 0.2 litres/100km and 5g/km over Mégane R.S. at the time of the latter's launch.


Assertive yet seductive R.S. styling cues

Mégane R.S. Trophy is recognisable at a glance thanks to its black roof, specific decals, new rear lip spoiler, 19-inch Gloss Black STEEV wheels with red piping and R.S. valve caps (optional or standard, depending on market) and numbered plaque. The LED daytime running lights also play a part in its striking looks. Mégane R.S. Trophy marks the introduction of a new Sirius Yellow finish, an emblematic metallic paint that will be particularly appreciated by Renault Sport fans. This specific body colour is available as an alternative to Glacier White, Etoilé Black and Cassiopée Grey.

Inside, the Recaro bucket seats (fabric or leather, depending on market) add to the cabin's unmistakably sporty feel, as does the central display which shows the data provided by the R.S. Monitor. This innovative onboard data-logging system records performance and displays a range of mechanical parameters in real-time, a feature which owners will especially appreciate during track days, an exercise to which the Mégane R.S. Trophy lends itself particularly well. Indeed, the car will be on show at the Renault Sport Day which forms part of the Renault Sport Enthusiasts Day programme at the Nürburgring, Germany, on June 17, 2011.